a b s t r a c t
To understand the potential of cultivating tropical marine diatom Thalassiosira sp. to produce biofuel, biodiesel
product properties and growth characteristics of Thalassiosira sp. in three different media were
investigated. After medium evaluation, significant Thalassiosira sp. cell growth was observed in both Walne
and enriched seawater media, but not in plain seawater medium. The microalgae grew well in alkaline
condition (pH range of 8.0–8.8). The average biomass density cultured in Walne and enriched seawater
media on the 6th day was 4.36 and 2.50 g L1, respectively. Based on ESI-IT-MS spectra, the TAGs of algal
oil were identified as POP, POO, and SOO, and the FAMEs as oleic acid methyl ester. The oil productivity of
Thalassiosira sp. cultured in Walne and enriched seawater media were 150 and 290 lL L1 d1, respectively.
The density and kinematic viscosity of Thalassiosira sp. biodiesel were 0.857 g mL1 and
1.151 mm2 s1.